Was Braxton Bragg Really That Bad? - Page 7

ole · #61 03-10-2006, 10:46 PM

I'm starting to feel a little warmer about Bragg myself. His responsibilities were more than difficult and, if his subordinates had been nonexistent, it would have been better for him. Now. If he weren't such a jerk.

Ole

samgrant · #62 03-11-2006, 12:01 AM

Just to answer the original question:

Yes!

r_moody · #63 03-11-2006, 12:26 AM

Lee had problems with generals too but Davis always backed him up. That was not the case with the western generals. Even AS Johnston was on the hot seat with Davis. One thing that has puzzled me was that Lee did produce good generals but most were kept with him or left for a while and came back later. I don't know if it was Lee hanging on to his team or Davis unwilling to make Lee give them up or maybe he did get rid of the one's he didn't like? I really don't know.

Its very hard to blame the western generals for lack of support from Richmond.

Rick

samgrant · #64 03-11-2006, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by r_moody

Lee had problems with generals too but Davis always backed him up. That was not the case with the western generals. Even AS Johnston was on the hot seat with Davis. One thing that has puzzled me was that Lee did produce good generals but most were kept with him or left for a while and came back later. I don't know if it was Lee hanging on to his team or Davis unwilling to make Lee give them up or maybe he did get rid of the one's he didn't like? I really don't know.

Its very hard to blame the western generals for lack of support from Richmond.

Rick

Wow, your post may be worthy of it's own thread with the questions from which might be elicited!

One might say that Lee was blessed by having good lieutenants.

As to "Its very hard to blame the western generals for lack of support from Richmond.", I'd agree. J.Davis had a "Richmond-centric" view of things.

"AS Johnston was on the hot seat with Davis" - this is a new one for me!

r_moody · #65 03-12-2006, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samgrant

"AS Johnston was on the hot seat with Davis" - this is a new one for me!

He was blamed for not being aggresive enough in stopping Fort Donaldson, Ft Henry and Isle #10. Basically everything that happened in the west prior to Shilo.

Rick

ole · #66 03-12-2006, 03:55 PM

When Davis was questioned on A.S. Johnston's abilities, Davis was said to have said,"If Johnston is not a general, then we have no generals." Ri-i-i-i-i-ight.

Ole

r_moody · #67 03-31-2006, 10:23 PM

I think we sometimes place too much emphasis on the general as deciding factor in battles. A great battle plan can fall apart due to weather or just one subordinate not following through as planned. Bragg was a very good strategist but not so good at logistics and very poor in his personal relationships. You just can’t be effective if a part of your staff is POed at you. Everything that Bragg accomplished was shadowed by his inability to inspire confidence in his subordinates. Bragg should have been the Czar of the western military forces similar to Halleck but with someone else planning the battles and dealing with all the volunteers.

Rick

samgrant · #68 03-31-2006, 10:37 PM

I just can't help wondering if this arguementative unibrow was a poplular classmate at West Point.

samgrant · #69 04-02-2006, 12:08 AM

Here is an interesting article on our favorite CW unibrower:

http://www.cincinnaticwrt.org/bragg_quarrel.html

samgrant · #70 04-02-2006, 12:17 AM

I don't mean to dump on this guy, but I find that his most availiable bio of him is titled "Braxton Bragg and Confederate Defeat", this does not bode well for the poor guy's reputation.

I'd be interestred in any info about any positive evaluations (which would outwheigh the negatives) of this guy.